Living without a winter coat

Of all the things I have had to get used to, the weather is the main one. Personally, the steady temperatures are one of the reasons I moved out here from NYC in May. As the holidays grow closer though, a lack of snow has given this farm girl a bit of a mind f**k. I’m supposed to be thinking about presents already? Even though Halloween is my favorite “holiday”, it completely blindsided me this year and I have done zilch to “celebrate”.

As a fellow yogi put it, you feel like you are frozen in time. The temperate weather doesn’t lend itself to seasons as in the Midwest (where I was born) or the East Coast. I’ve moved seamlessly from spring to fall without having to change a thing about my wardrobe. Heck, I didn’t even bring a winter jacket with me when I moved and I’m glad I didn’t – it would have been a waste of space. Though the pleasant weather does make it easier to plan any activity (just bring a spare jacket), it might be my undoing on this city. While I plan to stay in the area for at least another three years, I might end up moving further out just to have snow again.

10 Comments so far

As someone who lived in a place with “real seasons” for three years, I think they’re grossly overrated. The “white Christmas” is nice only as long as it doesn’t affect you. Don’t forget that you won’t be shoveling snow, dealing with un-plowed streets, driving next to people who have no clue as to how they should be driving in snow, walking down sidewalks where a**holes haven’t shoveled, or suddenly falling down on icy sidewalks. And it’s really cold too.

I moved here in July from Upstate NY and have been going through the exact same thing. While the weather is always nice in San Francisco, it’s monotonous. Give me the fall leaves, winter snow, and spring mud any day–I’ll rake, shovel, and clean my boots happily.

Well, it will get pretty chilly in December and January — but not below 35, unless you are outside the city. You might also need that winter coat (however you define winter) on a whale-watching boat trip or April night game at the ballpark.

Whenever one of my friends mentions that they might want to make a move to NYC or Boston, I really wonder if they know what the hell they’re talking about. Great cities, both, I’m sure, but man, ain’t no way a California kid can get used to putting on galoshes (what are those?) and salting the sidewalks (why do that?) and gettin to work in snow gear (does Burton snowboarding pants count?). Give this native son a temperature range of 45-75 all year please.

Last winter: snow sticking on Twin Peaks, Portola Drive, and a few other places in the city, as well as Sausalito side of the Rainbow Tunnel, let alone Santa Cruz Mountains. Winter 1996, a couple of days before Xmas: I remember catching big, FLUFFY snowflakes on my tongue on Steiner and Waller–and the sun was partly out too! And no shoveling needed! Rare, yes, but it happens.

I’ve been here for eight years, after being raised in the mid-west and living on the east and south coasts. I love this area: 1) We don’t have to shovel what falls from the sky in the winter. 2) I am thankful it doesn’t get that cold – CA drivers can’t drive in the rain, I’m glad there’s no snow or ice. 3) I don’t have to wear heavy winter clothing – snow pants, heavy slacks, mittens or gloves, scarfs, winter hats. I too laugh at some of the winter attire in my neighborhood, but I figure we all dress the way we need to dress. Right?

Victoria,
Another thing. The Bay Area is great at celebrating Halloween.

It’s hard to celebate a holiday if you don’t have the weather that you are used to.

Guess what! You have tolive by a calendar, not the weather. Learn to do that and you will have a wonderful life out here. Don’t wait for the snow to celebrate Thankgiving or Christmas. Make your plans by the calendar, not the weather.
Have fun out here.

wait… you move here, knowing what the weather will be like, then complain about it? take your gripes elsewhere if you don’t like it don’t live here make room in this crowded city for those who really want to be here

Thank you all for the supportive words. At the Fillmore #1 bus stop, I met an older woman who has lived in SF for 30 years, but she is originally from Buffalo, and she knew just what I was talking about as well. As I knew there would be, I am still going through the adjustment period and I am pretty sure that, in the end, I will be thankful for the steady-esque temperatures.

Tyler, unfortunately, it seems you missed my point. I was not complaining, but stating the adjustment process that a newbie to the area goes through.